Wednesday Music News

Following the recent release of fourth studio album Port of Morrow, venerable indie artists The Shins revealed a new video for track “The Rifle’s Spiral.” Directed by Jamie Caliri, the stop-motion animated video evokes elements of Tim Burton and Edward Gorey, with enjoyably macabre results. Watch it via Nowness. For more material from James Mercer of The Shins, check out footage from his recent live performance at KEXP here.

In case you weren’t aware, today is Zimbabwean Independence Day. In celebration, Seattle artists Baba Maraire (a.k.a. Tendai of Shabazz Palaces) has released a new video for “rhodZi,” created by Charles Mudede (who’s also a critic for Seattle Weekly and The Stranger). Watch the video and read more about it here.

On a local front: album release shows are flyin’ all over (under) the radar in the next few weeks: Naomi Punk will release their LP titled The Feeling on Seattle’s brand-spankin’ new Couple Skate Records April 24th. Buddied with the release is a release party/live show with bands Japanther, Nu Sensae, and The Pharmacy at the Black Lodge on April 21st, which is bound to be a rad time. Check out full event info here, and a track from Olympia-based Naomi Punk below.

For those looking for their dark-pop fix, look to the resident goth chorus Grave Babies, who as of yesterday, can be congratulated on their EP release. Titled Gothdammit, the EP is available for purchase from local imprint Hardly Art Records. Check out the not-quite-silent choir of haunters in the video for track “Bloodstains” below.